Ali Commission
“The thing that most forget while dreamily looking off into the horizon for the ship of their dreams is that such ships never sail in, but are actually built beneath their very feet.” – Notes from the Universe (Mike Dooley)
Boy sometimes I have just a flurry of MM activity to write about and then, not so much. Not that there isn’t stuff going on, but others have picked up the ball quite well or I don’t have anything to add. Even though I’ve been very busy doing all manner of fun things, I have been keeping up with all the usual suspects of up-to-date news. I have been falling behind terribly on a couple of commitments and will be working to get those things done.
In the meantime, I have finished painting the Yarn Shoppe which was my contribution to the “facelift”. It’s a very active “hangout” and most of the regulars all contributed something to the shop’s re-do. I have great painting skills and I enjoy doing it, so that was my part. She didn’t want to close the shop so I was painting sections as the displays were cleared away for me to get to the walls. Then I went away and we had one final small wall to do. It finally got done this week and it looks great.
I have scarf orders for holiday gifts from several people. The above photo is exciting for me. It will be two scarves for Allison based on colors she expressed for two important people in her and her husband’s life. She has approved and I will be moving forward shortly on these.
My weaving website is limping along a bit better than it was, but still I have much work to do in understanding it a bit better and how to use certain features.
My former boss Ron Baker (Bakers’ Studio) is doing my logo/business card design. I decided that I just didn’t have the time or the fresh skills to do it right now and hired him. I knew he would pull it together for me and he has. I haven’t put it up for you to see just yet, because they are only mockups. It’s lovely.
The Yarn Shoppe has been invited to Vogue in Los Angeles this fall and has asked to carry 4 or 5 of my scarves at their booth while they are there. I’m very honored to be asked and also immensely curious to see what kind of feedback she gets and what she can sell them for. Good stuff.
The kids are happy and flourishing for the most part. Hudson attained his Arbor License. This was wonderful and exciting news. He studied hard for it. He said it was really hard. This is recognized in all 50 States.
Montana had her first event at Georgetown for the nursing students (On Campus Intensive) and it went very well.
Dave and I finally got his blood/urine overnighted to Little Rock. I will write more on this later as I’m gathering information. Once we actually finally got his blood centrifuged and back in his hands I set about getting it shipped and discovered you can’t just mail it. Sigh… So, my dear college roomie, a Medical Lab Tech, instructed me to put it in the fridge based on the color of the caps of the test tubes and gave me the necessary bread crumbs to figure out the shipping the next morning. Suffice to say, I was successful, it was picked up at my house by FedEx and now I have ventured over to the post office and will also check with UPS and then I’ll get us all a bit of hatting on Category B shipments. Thank you Al-Queda.
Kip (forefront), Zoe (back)
I’m taking care of Zoe, my neighbor’s lab. She’s lovely and funny to me. She likes to sit in my lap on the couch (I’ve learned she is not allowed at her house, Kip’s not allowed here either!), and she likes to sleep with me in bed (she’s not allowed at her house), and when she’s bored, she makes all kinds of interesting grunts and sighs. I enjoy having her. I had two of their four children yesterday, interim sitter plans fell through as they headed out for a weekend trip with their other two children. So I had the little guys (not so little anymore) until the weekend sitter was able to grab them in the afternoon. We had a lovely day together. I enjoy them. We watched some movies in the morning while I was getting some things done, then out to run errands, lunch at Panera, and then Brandon wanted to stop of at the pet store and see the “critters”. I saw the store in a whole new light, with fresh, excited, curious eyes of children. I only go in there to get something I’m looking for and didn’t even know the exotic hamsters were over there and so on. They educated me on all manner of things and it was delightful.
On the Loom
I’m still working on my art studio, slowly, in between, projects, classes, social, etc. But it is indeed coming together and I’m making some headway.
Oh! Hanna and Margaret are doing a bang up job on a Multiple Myeloma Support Group on FaceBook (Multiple Myeloma Support Group (non-profit)). If you have a FB account definitely put this in your search window (the name) and join us there.
Well, I’m off to spend the day with 2 of my weaving buddies. We are going over to the sheep farm in Meridian and having lunch. It will be part working and part social occasion. My weaving dreams of long ago are clobbering me over the head in a big, big way at the moment and I’m hanging on and letting it take me on this ride. It would seem that I’m riding the wave on many areas of my life at the moment and right now, it’s all good.
Karen, I couldn’t agree with you more on the things you are doing to create a sense of “normalcy” and lift yourselves out of that all to often overwhelming feeling that this disease or any life changing event can seem to bring upon us. There is no “static” in life. It is ever changing and our ability to change with it is where the growth comes from and our level of survival. It is the littlest of things that you mention that no longer are just ho-hum, but great moments to be coveted and enjoyed. Dinner with friends, dreaming, enjoying the stars in the evening. My hat is off to you! Thank you for taking the time, as always, to leave your wonderful perspective on how you and Hugh are “coping”. I’m sure that it gives hope to others as they migrate through Myelomaville. Sounds pretty amazing to me! Hugs to you both!
lori, it’s so good to read about all the variety of fun interests and activities that are keeping you busy, stimulated, and engaged in doing things you love, are talented at, and have dreamed about for so long. it gives us hope that the day will come when “normalcy” will outweigh feeling life is just too overwhemled with the myeloma battle for us cg’s and our loved ones. i strive to have a good dose of that “normalcy” every day, both for hugh and myself, no matter what it may be – having dinner on the patio a little later in the evening to be able to watch the stars come out, getting together with friends who make us laugh our selves stupid and allow us not to think/talk about hugh’s illness, and giving ourselves permission to dream about jumping on a plane with nothing but toothbrushes and bathing suits! what you have said so many times about all the overwhelming issues and decisions surrounding a new dx, or even, a new change in the status of the disease – the key is to reach out and grab onto just one thing and deal with it, then move onto the next thing. and so it goes for finding ways to live well in the present. grab onto ANYTHING that is life enhancing, fun, and satisfying. every day. no matter what. warm hugs to you, lori.